Australia's COVID-19 cases hit 8-day high; restrictions may be extended

Australia on Thursday reported the biggest one-day rise in COVID-19 cases in more than a week, denting optimism that a stringent lockdown of its second-largest city will soon be lifted.

More Evidence that "stringent lockdowns" may not be the answer?

Obviously, the totalitarian lockdown isn't the best thing.

Disappointing to see Australia going the heavy authoritarian road.

Meanwhile, this WSJ article points to new research that questions the entire concept of heavy-handed lockdowns:

https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-failed-experiment-of-covid-lockdowns-11599000890

The longer this goes on, the more I think the Swedish authorities were right.

More Evidence that "stringent lockdowns" may not be the answer?

More evidence that it's the nastiest little bastard virus humans have faced since 1918, meaning that we have to take it very seriously (i.e. lockdowns...which have always led to lower rates of infection wherever implemented, if you care to follow events).

Before you get back with "Oh, what about this story?" - Wait a week, and you'll see infections are down again.

There is always going to be some fluctuation in the numbers as they trend down thanks to the lock down.

Without the lock down the numbers each day would be well over 1000 by now and closer to 2000.

Thank goodness for the lock down and the reduction in the spread of this deadly virus. keep it going.

Notice that Sweden is doing quite well and never had lockdowns nor do the majority of people wear masks.

Why do people use Sweden as an example instead of America?

The Australian authorities are just going over the top here....

Why Sweden? There are other countries that didn't lockdown.

Sweden has an even higher death / population ratio than the US

i@n

Why Sweden? There are other countries that didn't lockdown.

Sweden has an even higher death / population ratio than the US

The US is not one homogeneous place with uniform policies. Different locations, different policies. For example, NY: lockdown death rate higher than Sweden. South Dakota: No lockdown, death rates lower than Sweden.

Also within Sweden, almost all the deaths were within nursing homes, and early on. Today, very few deaths.

Sweden population 10.23 million (2019)

Australia population 24.99 million (2018)

Sweden statistics for covid

Cases

84,532

Recovered

-

Deaths

5,820

Australia statistics for covid

Cases

26,049

+126

Recovered

21,907

Deaths

678

Anyone who says Sweden got it right and Australia is over the top with lock downs has not looked at the FACTS.

Australia less than one third of cases with a population 2.5 times higher than Sweden.

Australia 8.5 times less deaths than Sweden. If Australia had have followed Sweden's path it could have 14,550 deaths by now. Thanks to the lock downs 13,872 people have been saved when compared with Sweden.

That's a lot of people thankful to be alive and friends and family would be thankful too.

https://www.google.com/search?ei=cgJRX4vMJMOl9QO65IWIBw&q=australia+death+rate+from+covid+19&oq=Australia+death+rate+from+covid

Peter14

Australia 8.5 times less deaths than Sweden. If Australia had have followed Sweden's path it could have 14,550 deaths by now.

No. Sweden is over hill now and did not destroy its economy. Australia is still developing, and how long do you want the lockdowns to continue? Until the entire economy is destroyed?

No. Sweden is over hill now and did not destroy its economy. Australia is still developing, and how long do you want the lockdowns to continue? Until the entire economy is destroyed?

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-sweden-gdp-falls-8pc-in-q2-worse-nordic-neighbors-2020-8%3famp

Sweden's GDP slumped 8.6% in Q2, more sharply than its neighbors despite its no-lockdown policy

Sweden's GDP fell 8.6% during the second quarter of the year, according to its statistics body.

The fall is sharper than its neighbors — Denmark registered a 7.4% fall, and Finland a 3.2% fall. Statistics suggest Norway also fared better than Sweden.

Sweden decided not to pursue a nationwide lockdown, unlike most European nation. The statistics show this did not help its economy.

Sweden has also seen much more widespread death from COVID-19 than nearby nations — though much of Europe is again registering an increase in cases

No. Sweden is over hill now and did not destroy its economy. Australia is still developing, and how long do you want the lockdowns to continue? Until the entire economy is destroyed?

You consider the economy more important than life. Even your own life?

I do not. Keep the lock down until the virus is contained. The economy will be rebuilt. None of the dead can be brought back to life.

Australia has the virus cases being greatly reduced thanks to the lock downs, and that trend is continuing. It will soon be contained. I will take that every day of the week over Sweden.